Bars for Days

In this generational time capsule, Mic Nickels vividly describes his experiences growing up alongside the hip hop revolution, and into the dawn of the Information Age. From his early struggles being raised by a single mother affected by the eighties drug epidemic, to his coming of age experiences pursuing a career as a rapper and musician, to his travels to exotic destinations like Egypt, Peru, Japan, and Cuba, Nickels provides brilliantly lucid glimpses in time, which dance along the entire scale of the emotional spectrum.

Bars for Days is an inspiring human interest story which encapsulates the relentless drive and perseverance of an aspiring musician, as he moves through various social circles while bartending at a comedy club in Miami, and later a jazz club in New York City. Interactions with celebrities and emcees from the underground hip hop community, as Nickels makes his ascent into the music industry, add up to entertaining anecdotes. But the true heart of the story lies in his deep commitment to family. Faced with improbable odds upon becoming a long distance father, as well as experiences of unexpected loss, there is a profound sense of authenticity revealed by Nickels, as he describes the difficulties of balancing between his personal life and his career.

Commentary on social and geopolitical topics such as 9/11, hip hop's correlation with racism in America, and the rise of Covid-19, makes Bars for Days more than just another entertainer's memoir. There is a sense of importance embedded in the poetic words of Mic Nickels, which transcends beyond our contemporary lens. As the narrative drifts from humorous moments, to deep emotionally charged circumstances, into illustrations of human triumph, what emerges is an uplifting tale that will provide hope for generations to come.